[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO STACIE MATHEWSON

 Mr. HELLER. Madam President, today I wish to recognize an 
individual who has gone above and beyond in her endeavors to help 
fellow Nevadans and Americans across the country, Stacie Mathewson. 
This ambitious Nevadan founded the Stacie Mathewson Foundation and 
Transforming Youth Recovery, which promote drug addiction awareness, 
recovery, prevention, and education throughout our State and country. 
Her work is truly invaluable to Nevada, helping to break the cycle of 
drug abuse within our community.
  Mrs. Mathewson's unwavering dedication to transform youth recovery 
began in 2011 when she founded the Stacie Mathewson Foundation, an 
organization committed to improving addiction recovery and prevention, 
while eradicating the social stigma involved with substance disorder. 
In that same year, the foundation helped fund the Nevada Recovery and 
Prevention Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, UNR. The on-
campus program has implemented various recovery groups, in addition to 
providing supportive gathering places for students who choose sobriety. 
Mrs. Mathewson also spearheaded the creation of a national sobriety 
program for college campuses, which has been successful at 150 colleges 
and universities across the country.
  Mrs. Mathewson's work has also more narrowly focused on helping the 
youth in our great State. In May of 2015, the Youth Offender Drug Court 
was established, working to provide an alternative treatment for those 
in need. With help from Transforming Youth Recovery, the Josh Montoya 
House was created and serves as a facility for the Washoe County Youth 
Offender Drug Court in order to provide young men who are combating 
drug addiction with comprehensive residential and outpatient treatment 
care.
  Mrs. Mathewson has focused on growing early prevention within the 
local community as well. On February 1, 2016, Mrs. Mathewson announced 
Transforming Youth Recovery's commitment to launching an innovative 
research program, Doors to Recovery, for students from kindergarten 
through 12th grade in the Washoe County School District. The program 
aims to create a comprehensive prevention and intervention program, as 
well as recovery support services for students and families. Mrs. 
Mathewson stands as a role model, demonstrating genuine concern and 
understanding of others who are in need. I am thankful to have her 
working as an ally to address this national epidemic.
  Today I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing 
Mrs. Mathewson for all of her hard work in bringing greater awareness 
to drug addiction and in transforming youth recovery in the State of 
Nevada and across the Nation. I am honored to call her a fellow Nevadan 
and a friend, and I wish her all of the best of luck as she continues 
in her endeavors with the Stacie Mathewson Foundation.

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